Say TaTa Tummy

Yep. It's that time of year. Time to either dust off the old swim suit, or if it appears to have 'shrunk' a size or two, bolster your courage and go shopping for a new one. The good news is for those facing tummy trouble, midriff coverings are back. Retro looks have caught on swimmingly, thanks in great part to the styles embraced in the tv hit Mad Men, and most recently by The Great Gatsby.

Without getting into the swimsuits of the 1920's—for the sheer reason that I could post 10 blogs worth of pics on that topic alone—here are a few blasts from a few decades past that would be just as fetching worn seaside today as when they were originally de rigueur:

Bathing Suit

1945-1955

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Bathing Suit

1950s

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Bathing Suit

1950s

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Swimsuit

Cole of California, late 1930s

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Yellow playsuit with black lace details, 1950s

Beach Ensemble

1944

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Bathing Cap

Klienert’s, 1950s

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

And now for the modern batch

Now you have no excuse to not enjoy some fun in the sun this Summer.  So grab your beach tote and meet me on the sand!

The Spring-Summer footwear lines get right to the point

The designers have spoken. And have done so in no uncertain terms. Clunky 'stripper' shoes are out.  Pointy heels are in... especially ones that are Metallic... as well as Strappy... and Tappy... as in tap shoes... yep tap dancing shoes... especially the ones with straps.  Here's a bit of what your feet can expect as the weather warms.

Getting Pinned

Get ready for your soft-focus, powdered, primped, painted & eventually photoshopped close-up

by Joie de Vivre

Think you could never look like one of these stunning pin-up models? Think again. These glam gals are just ordinary women who jumped onboard the latest trend train -- pinup photography. Inspired and emboldened by the recent rise in boudoir photography, especially on the part of brides, women of all ages and marital states are giving themselves the gift of glamour and signing up for these cute and innocuous photo shoots.

A far cry from the teased and draped glamour shots found in the local mall, this latest fad affords the subject more than just 8x10 glossies -- it offers nostalgia.... a trip back to what we now perceive as a 'gentler more innocent time'... which it most likely was not.... but that's not the point. So then what is the point, you ask? It is a little bit of all the good stuff our world today calls for in order for us to make sense of it and retain our hope and promise for the future.

These photos make women feel like fresh-faced desirable Betties.... as opposed to aging in-need-of Botox has-beens the media and cosmetics companies make us out to be. The clothes, hair, makeup and overall vibe of these shots is simple and flirty without skewing sleazy. And they are a fun and lasting way for women to do a little something nice for themselves and have something to show... something BEAUTIFUL to show.... for it, in perpetuity.

I for one intend to contact my favorite photographer [insert Amy Allen Photography plug here] and arrange for one of these playful photography sessions. Who knows, if I end up with twelve good shots I may even go for a calendar! Time to blow up the beach ball, grab a sailor hat and visit the vintage store, and of course pick up a tube of Chanel's CoCo Red Lipstick... then pose... and practice my pout.

Keep your eyes on the Siren School event calendar for a Pampered PinUp party this winter.